Back in 2004, while living on an island in Maine I was asked by the Maine Humanities Council to participate in the Born To Read comittee mandated to select 12 picture books for its new diversity initiative Many Eyes Many Voices: Talking About Difference Through Children's Literature.
We shared our favorite stories & created a list of picture books that we felt challenged stereotypes and encouraged all Maine children to value difference. Our 12 books, along with storytelling activities & discussion suggestions were given to caregivers & teachers to share and act as seeds of peace & hope.
As publishers, artists and illustrators of picture books we have a chance and I believe responsibility to reflect reality & represent more diversity in our stories. Otherwise, as Walter Dean Myers asks us:
We shared our favorite stories & created a list of picture books that we felt challenged stereotypes and encouraged all Maine children to value difference. Our 12 books, along with storytelling activities & discussion suggestions were given to caregivers & teachers to share and act as seeds of peace & hope.
I believe picture books can truly make a difference in a childs life and act as bridges to a safer, saner more imaginative world. It certainly did so in mine.
As publishers, artists and illustrators of picture books we have a chance and I believe responsibility to reflect reality & represent more diversity in our stories. Otherwise, as Walter Dean Myers asks us:
"Where are black children going to get a sense of who they are and what they can be?"We can do better. Here's a few of my favorite picture books from my library.
25 Picture Books That Cultivate Inclusion & Value Difference
1.The Secret Footprints by Julia Alvarez illustrated By Fabian Negrin, Dell Dragonfly Books, 2000
2.Beat The Story-Drum, Pum-Pum By Ashely Bryant, Atheneum, 1987
3.Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears By Verna Aardema & Illustrated By Leo & Diane Dillon, The Dial Press, 1975
4. The Ugly Vegetables By Grace Lin, Charlesbridge, 1999
6. My Name Is Yoon, By Helen Recorvits & Illustrated By Gabi Swiatkowska, Frances Foster Books, FSG, 2003
7. A Chair For My Mother By Vera B. Williams, Caldecott Medal, Greenwillow, 1988, Spanish & English
8. Tar Beach By Faith Ringgold, Caldecott Medal, Crown Publishers, 1998
9. A Story, A Story, Retold & Illustrated By Gail E. Haley, Aladdin Paperbacks, Simon & Schuster, 1970
10. Talk Peace, Sam Williams & Illustrated By Mique Moriuchi, Holiday House, 2005
11. Words With Wings, A Treasury of African American Art & Poetry, Selected By Belinda Rochelle, Harper, 2001
12. The Frog Who Wanted To Be A Singer, By Linda Goss & Illustrated By Cynthia Jabar, Orchard Books, 1996
14. I Live In Tokyo, By Mari Takabayashi, Houghton Mifflin, 2001
16. The Red Butterfly, By Deborah Noyes & Illustrated By Sophie Blackall, Candlewick, 2007
17. No Hickory, No Dickory, No Dock, Caribbean Nursery Rhymes, By John Agard & Grace Nichols, Illustrated by Cynthia Jabar, Candlewick, 1991
18. What A Wonderful World, By George David Weiss & Bob Theile & Illustrated By Ashley Bryant, Atheneum, 1995
19. L'il Sis And Uncle Willie, A Story Based On The Life & Paintings of William H. Johnson, By Gwen Everett, Rizzoli, 1991
21. Martin's Big Words, The Life of Martin Luther King Jr., By Doreen Rappaport & Illustrated By Bryan Collier, Hyperion, 2001
22. Tiger On A Tree, By Anushka Ravishankar Illustrated By Pulak Biswas, Tara Publishing, 1997
23. We Are All Alike, We Are All Different, Written & Illustrated By the Cheltenhame Elementary School Kindergartners, Scholastic, 1991
25. Dizzy, By Jonah Winter & Illustrated By Sean Qualls, Arthur Levine, 2006
Do you have a favoite?
Tweet it to me: @cynthiajabar and I'll add it to my list.
Why Hasn't The Number of Multicultural Books Increased in The Last 18 Years? Lee & Low Books Blog (Questions posed to publishers and librarians.)
Tweet it to me: @cynthiajabar and I'll add it to my list.
Diverse Picture Books Reading Lists
Diverse Voices: The 50 Best Culturally Diverse Children's Books, The Guardian
Diverse Summer's Reading List 2015, curated by author Lyn Miller Lachman
Diverse Summer's Reading List 2015, curated by author Lyn Miller Lachman
30 Multicultural Books Every Teen Should Know, compiled by the Cooperative Children's Book Center
Small Presses of Color, compiled by the Cooperative Children's Book Center
World Full of Color List, Shelftalker, compiled by Elizabeth Bluemele, President, Association of Booksellers for Children
Brown Book Shelf, United In Story, a list of resources & books written by African American authors
Resources & Related Reading
Diversity in Children's Books: Colouring in Required by Alison Flood, The Guardian
Why Hasn't The Number of Multicultural Books Increased in The Last 18 Years? Lee & Low Books Blog (Questions posed to publishers and librarians.)
True or False? Multicultural Books Don't Sell, We Are The Problem, We Are The Solution by Elizabeth Bluemie, co-owner of the Flying Pig Bookstore
Pushing The Envelope And Making A Difference by Phoebe Yeh
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